September Fly Fishing for Salmon

article by Peter at Fred's Custom Tackle

September is here at last and with it
comes the fall runs of Coho, Spring, Pink Sockeye and Chum salmon. All species of salmon will take flies!

Sockeye, Pink and Chum salmon will
provide some great entertainment, but must be released in
most rivers. Spring salmon are often found in deep,
strong flowing water and are difficult to fish for with a
fly! Coho salmon are more aggressive and will frequent
water which is easy to fish with a fly.

Local waters that provide good
prospects for the fly fisherman are the Chilliwack/Vedder
River and Vedder Canal, the Harrison and Chehalis Rivers
as well as the Fraser River between Deroche and Hope.

An important factor in flyfishing any river for
salmon is to have the proper line for the speed and depth
of the water. For fishing the Chilliwack/Vedder, a sink
tip (type IV or V) is probably the best suited. This line
allows you to fish even fast water to depths of 8' or so.
The Harrison River and Vedder Canal, have much slower
water speeds and can be fished with sink tip (type I, II
and III) and slowing sinking lines.

The Fraser River has a very strong flow
and is best fished with a sink tip (type IV and V) lines
or 200 - 300 grain shooting lines. Keep in mind that with
any sinking line it is usually best to keep your leader
less than 10' in length. Fast and/or turbulent water is
often best fished with leaders between 4' and 6' in
length.

When
choosing colours, consider that fluorescent pinks and
reds will attract a lot of Pink and Chum salmon. By
choosing more subdued or natural colours you will
decrease your Pink and Chum number, but you will still
catch Coho.

The abundance of salmon in the fall
will attract lots of anglers. It is not necessary to fish
the popular "holes" since these fish are all
traveling upstream. On their way, they will travel
through miles of perfect flyfishing water.

Go out and enjoy the fishing
opportunities this fall season should bring.

Be sure to read all of the
other articles from Fred's Custom Tackle
& Fishing Adventures, the Fraser Valley's fishing authority.